George Kahale III

Chairman, Partner

George Kahale, International Arbitration Lawyer
Kahale III George49038191 1

Chambers USA 2024

Ranked in Band 3 for International Arbitration: Counsel

Awards

Recognized in Legal 500 USA “Hall of Fame” for International Arbitration (2020-2023)

Recognized by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in International Arbitration (2023)

Recognized by Chambers Global as a leading lawyer in International Arbitration

Recognized by Chambers Latin America as a leading lawyer in International Arbitration

Two-time Burton Award winner for Distinguished Legal Writing (2012 and 2018)

Two-time GAR nominee for best lecture of the year (2014 and 2018)

The American Lawyer, "Dealmaker of the Year" (2009)

Latin Lawyer, "Restructuring Deal of the Year" (2009)

Euromoney's Expert Guides: Project Finance Lawyers (2006)

Rankings

Chambers USA 2024

International Arbitration: Counsel

"George Kahale maintains his excellent reputation for state-side representation in investment treaty arbitrations."

Chambers Global 2024

Global Market Leaders - Arbitration (International)

"George Kahale does a good and effective job for his clients."

Chambers Global 2024

International Arbitration: Counsel - USA

"George has detailed knowledge of both the international arbitration system as well as the international transactions that structure and occasionally give rise to those arbitrations. In arbitration, he is a tireless advocate and brilliant strategist."

Chambers Global 2024

Arbitration (International) - Latin America - International Counsel

Legal 500: USA 2023

Dispute Resolution - International Arbitration - Hall of Fame

"Firm chairman George Kahale spearheads the global practice from New York and is widely revered for his record in prominent state-side representations."

Chambers USA 2023

International Arbitration: Counsel

"George Kahale is a well-established leader in the field of international arbitration, with a great deal of experience, and is fully committed to his client and to the case."

"George has detailed knowledge of both the international arbitration system as well as the international transactions that structure and occasionally give rise to those arbitrations. In arbitration, he is a tireless advocate and brilliant strategist."

Legal 500: Latin America 2023

International Arbitration - International Counsel

"George Kahale III leads the team from New York and has been a leading figure in the firm’s work for Venezuela"

Chambers Global 2023

Global Market Leaders - Arbitration (International)

Chambers Global 2023

Latin America - International Counsel - Arbitration (International)

"George Kahale is one of the most intelligent men I have ever met," states a respondent, adding: "He is extremely dedicated to the interests of his clients."

Chambers Global 2023

International Arbitration Counsel - USA

"George brings a great deal of experience to international arbitration and is fully committed to his client and the case." "George is the wisest investor-state dispute lawyer I have ever worked with; he provides strategic and practical advice and delivers the best outcome." "He is extremely effective counsel and very strategically savvy. He has an excellent understanding of the clients' needs and outstanding presentation and argumentation skills."

Chambers Latin America 2023

International Counsel - International Arbitration

"George Kahale benefits from vast experience handling complex Latin American international arbitration cases. He enjoys a solid track record representing governments in major investment treaty disputes. 'George Kahale is one of the most intelligent men I have ever met,' states a respondent, adding: 'He is extremely dedicated to the interests of his clients.'"

Legal 500 USA 2022

International Arbitration, Hall of Fame

“He is a well-established leader in the field of international arbitration, with a great deal of experience, and is fully committed to his client and to the case.” “George Kahale is recognized as a ‘leader in the field of international arbitration,’ and counts state clients from LatAm, Asia, Africa and the Middle East among his clients.”

Legal 500 Latin America 2022

International Firms: International Arbitration

“George Kahale has a unique combination of superb legal skills and real-world intuition. His broad experience negotiating deals makes him one of the best international arbitration lawyers in the world.” “George Kahale is one of the smartest people I have ever worked with. He is a good team manager, building a spirit of cooperation and mutual support among all parties working with him.”

Chambers USA 2022

Nationwide International Arbitration

“George is the wisest investor-state dispute lawyers I have ever worked with; he provides strategic and practical advice and delivers the best outcome.” “He is extremely effective counsel and very strategically savvy. He has an excellent understanding of the clients’ needs and outstanding presentation and argumentation skills.”

Chambers Global 2022

Global Market Leaders - Arbitration

He "can deliver the best outcomes" by offering "strategic and practical advice."

Chambers Global 2022

USA International Arbitration

"George Kahale maintains his excellent reputation for state-side representation in investment treaty arbitrations...He is a very well-known figure in international law and especially investment treaty arbitration, and has a lot of expertise handling disputes for sovereign states."

Chambers Latin America 2022

Latin America-wide International Arbitration

"George Kahale is a brilliant lawyer with a very good ability to understand the case from a legal perspective."

Chambers USA 2021

Nationwide International Arbitration

"George can quickly point out and develop the complicated legal issues and give a simple but the best strategy to deal with client problems."

Chambers Global 2021

Global Leaders - Arbitration (International)

"Fantastic strategist" George Kahale has extensive experience assisting state-side clients with investment treaty arbitration across North and South America. One source remarks that he is "an esteemed and experienced lawyer."

Chambers Latin America 2021

Latin America-wide International Arbitration

"He is an esteemed and experienced lawyer and a really fantastic strategist."

Legal 500 USA 2020

International Arbitration, Hall of Fame

"George Kahale is 'a bright legal mind with an excellent understanding of how companies and governments work,' which makes him 'unbeatable in both commercial and investment arbitration.'"

Legal 500 USA 2020

International Arbitration, Hall of Fame

"George Kahale is one of the smartest men I have ever met. On top of that, he is an outstanding manager. He builds teams of experts and lawyers that are dedicated to the case and assist each other; their work capacity and flexibility to adapt to changes and learn the key-to-win core business elements exceeds most service organizations."

Legal 500 USA 2020

International Arbitration, Hall of Fame

"George Kahale is a top lawyer in international arbitration. I am impressed by his simple and effective strategies. He has a great ability to develop novel arguments that are right to the point."

Chambers Global 2020

Global-wide International Arbitration

"George Kahale is a popular choice among sovereign states and state-owned entities seeking representation in high stakes investment arbitration. He brings considerable expertise to international disputes arising out of the energy, infrastructure and oil and gas spheres. A source describes him as 'a very impressive, smart guy' adding: 'He's a fantastic lawyer.'"

Chambers Latin America 2020

Latin America-wide International Arbitration

"Commentators hold George Kahale's abilities in very high regard, as one reports: 'I really appreciate his expertise, his in-depth knowledge and his understanding of the concepts of civil law jurisdictions. He's a tremendously experienced practitioner and you will be hard pressed to find anyone with as much ability in the investment arbitration world.'"

Chambers Global 2019

Latin America-wide International Arbitration

"George Kahale is very highly regarded by sources, who attest that 'in addition to his knowledge, experience, dedication and effort, he continues to stand out for his capacity to design strategies, the way of implementing them in each case, and above all the dexterity and agility that he shows throughout his respective audiences.'"

Chambers USA 2019

Nationwide International Arbitration

"George Kahale is highly experienced in acting for states in high-value investment treaty arbitrations. A market insider comments that 'he's a terrific advocate,' going on to highlight that 'his written work product is very thorough.' He also wins praise for his strategic approach and mastery of detail."

Chambers Global 2018

Global-wide International Arbitration

"George Kahale of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP is lauded as a 'very sharp' and 'extremely impressive' advocate."

Chambers Global 2018

USA International Arbitration

"Sources commend George Kahale's ability to 'always think two steps ahead of everyone else in the room.'"

Chambers Global 2018

Latin America-wide International Arbitration

"George Kahale is held in high esteem by commentators, who report that 'he leads the entire effort' and go on to say: 'He provides a very unified direction – all the arguments are elaborated under his leadership and all the drafts and briefs are examined by the whole team, ultimately producing something that everyone is happy with.'"

Chambers USA 2018

Nationwide International Arbitration

"Clients draw attention to George Kahale's 'knowledge, experience and dedication,' adding that 'from his background as a transactional lawyer, he brings an excellent understanding of how businesses work and how deals are made, which is very useful in international arbitration proceedings.'"

Chambers Latin America 2017

Latin America-wide International Arbitration

"Clients are quick to praise George Kahale, describing him as 'a most impressive professional who understands everything in depth.' They continue: 'He is extremely persuasive and able to focus, letting nothing distract him. He has a very critical mind.'"

Chambers Global 2017

Global-wide International Arbitration

"He is very courteous, polite and effective when speaking before arbitration panels."

Chambers Global 2017

USA International Arbitration

"George Kahale chairs the firm and is held in high regard as a 'very impressive advocate' in cross-border disputes. He is a go-to practitioner for states facing high-value arbitrations."

Legal 500 USA 2017

International Arbitration

"Extremely effective in developing and managing a team to work on a case."

Chambers Latin America 2016

Latin America-wide International Arbitration

"The 'incredibly smart' George Kahale cultivates an impressive profile for his work as sovereign-side counsel. 'He really sets an example for the younger lawyers on his team, and is completely dedicated to the case,' enthuse clients."

Legal 500 USA 2016

International Arbitration

"Kahale is 'brilliant and extremely dedicated to the interests of his clients,' as well as an 'excellent manager of the teams he assembles for cases.'"

Legal 500 Latin America 2016

International Firms: International Arbitration

"The practice is headed by 'great team leader' George Kahale III, who 'has an excellent command of the facts and legal aspects of each case handled.'"

Chambers Global 2016

Global-wide International Arbitration

"One source said: 'He comes in with a lot of experience, is purposeful, extremely focused and gives his full attention to a case.'"

Chambers Global 2016

USA International Arbitration

"Clients appreciate his deep understanding of the legal and economic implications of issues in the oil industry, and his 'exceptional work ethic.'"

Chambers Global 2016

Uganda General Business Law

"George Kahale is an esteemed practitioner and well versed in handling complex international commercial arbitrations. Sources note that 'he has always stood out and his stewardship of his team is beyond belief.'"

Chambers USA 2016

Nationwide International Arbitration

"According to one source, 'he is very strong in laying out the strategy of a case.'"

Chambers Global 2015

Global-wide International Arbitration

"In New York, George Kahale is the chairman of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, and is recognised for his wide-ranging experience of disputes arising in both North and South America. He impresses his clients, with one interviewee saying 'He is one of the smartest people I've ever worked with.'"

Chambers Global 2015

USA International Arbitration

"Sources praise his 'laser focus on the right issues and questions,' as well as his professional approach and awareness of cultural sensitivities."

Chambers Latin America 2015

Latin America-wide International Arbitration

"Interviewees praise George Kahale for his litigation and management skills, with one saying: 'He builds a team that is completely dedicated to the case.'"

Legal 500 USA 2015

International Arbitration: Litigation

"He has 'a special strength with respect to his management teams: he builds a team that is completely dedicated to the case.' Kahale, Benard Preziosi, and Mark O'Donoghue are 'outstanding' and 'put the interests of the client first.'"

Legal 500 Latin America 2015

International Firms: International Arbitration

"The practice is led by George Kahale III in New York (who is 'not only an outstanding international arbitration lawyer, but also has a great ability to deal with very different people in very different environments, and is especially good at building team spirit')."

Chambers Global 2014

Latin America-wide International Arbitration

"Sources list his strengths as 'relentless attention to detail, great competence and industry-specific knowledge.' They add: 'He has a degree of worldliness and experience which is tempered by patience.'"

Chambers Global 2014

Global-wide Public International Law

"George Kahale is the firm's chairman and his broad international practice includes investor-state arbitrations. Sources say: 'George is one of the smartest people I've ever worked with. He has special strength in management skills - he is consistent in creating great enthusiasm, loyalty and teamwork.'"

Chambers Global 2014

USA International Arbitration

"George Kahale co-chairs the group and is characterised as being 'very smart, with excellent presentation skills, superb at team-building, and able to see situations from all points of view.'"

Legal 500 USA 2014

International Arbitration

"George Kahale III is hailed as 'one of the best lawyers around,' with an 'exceptional ability to see the big picture of each case.'"

Legal 500 Latin America 2014

International Firms: International Arbitration

"The team is highlighted for its 'unmatched dedication to serve the interests of its clients,' who esteem the 'truly international' character of the practice: the firm 'staffs each case with lawyers from several offices in the US, Mexico and Europe,' which brings 'international perspective' as well as 'an appreciated proximity to the client.' Headed up by 'outstanding manager' George Kahale III, who 'has an excellent understanding of how companies think and operate.'"

Legal 500 Latin America 2013

International Firms: International Arbitration

"Foremost among those engaged in the region is firm chairman and practice co-chair George Kahale III, a very 'visible character' with an 'advocacy style like no other.' He is described as 'one of the very best arbitration lawyers in the world' by clients, who highlight his 'experience in examining and cross-examining witnesses and presenting his clients' cases."